The Wesley Street Community Planting Day on the weekend surpassed expectations with 220 tubestock dug in and watered by local volunteers. All plantings were riparian creekline species for sandstone gullies.

The site is critical to the success of the Upper Mullet Creek Biodiversity Restoration project to eradicate weeds, protect biodiversity and improve this vital wildlife corridor in the heart of Pittwater. Previously a haven for noxious environmental weeds, this riparian zone has been undergoing a transformation by bush regeneration contractors. Now the PEF is turning to the community to continue the bushcare. A call for more volunteers, particularly in the Wesley Street area, will be made over the next month with the first of a regular bushcare group meeting planned for early spring.

The yearly site inspection of the Mullet Creek Biodiversity restoration project was undertaken this week by PEF directors Marita Macrae and Lesley Stevens. They were accompanied by Pittwater Council’s Bushcare Officer Karin Nippard. The report card is a good one.

In the upper catchments of both North and South Mullet Creek our contractors, Australian Bush Restoration, have completed their primary work and are now undertaking secondary weeding and maintenance.

The major problem area in the Irrawong floodplain still needs primary work, however, the improvement over the last 2 years has been substantial.

New tactics are being undertaken to discourage wallaby predation of tubestock, and there are encouraging signs of regeneration.

This is second year of a six year project to eradicate weeds, protect biodiversity and improve this vital wildlife corridor in the heart of Pittwater.

This is one of two lyrebirds spotted on the track to the Irrawong waterfall recently by Kevin and Glenys Murray.

“They seemed oblivious to our presence scratching the leaf litter right beside the boardwalk’, said Kevin. PEF called in the Pittwater Natural Heritage Association experts for further information.

Birder Graeme Stevens thinks they are probably a mother and a juvenile given the lack of a splendid tail. The pair were also seen by Monique Kaha on her way to the Irrawong Bushcare afternoon last Saturday.

This is an exciting development, said PEF Director Marita Macrae, as we are just ending the second year of our six year bush regeneration plan for this area.

17 staff members from Mater Maria staff spent a Tuesday morning bird watching, weeding and planting native tubestock on the Ingleside escarpment of Upper Mullet Creek. The event was the brainchild of the Mater Maria Principal.

If you found this or other articles of interest or were inspired to be more environmentally active, please consider a donation or become a Become a Friend of the Pittwater Environmental Foundation.

The Mullet Creek Bush Care group meets every third Saturday between 1 – 4pm at the Irrawong Waterfall. Newcomers are welcomed. All tools are provided together with a delicious afternoon tea. Sturdy shoes and a bottle of water are recommended.

A Community Planting Day was held at the Irrawong waterfall site on Saturday 21 September. The Mullet Creek project is now in its second year of funding from the NSW Environmental Trust. The project will run for 6 years.

If you found this or other articles of interest or were inspired to be more environmentally active, please consider a donation or become a Become a Friend of the Pittwater Environmental Foundation.